The Damian Lillard trade saga has reached its conclusion, and the outcome is nothing short of shocking. Following a week filled with rumors and speculations, Lillard found himself in a surprising move to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday afternoon, forming a formidable partnership with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In this intricate three-team trade, Bucks guard Jrue Holiday makes his way to the Trail Blazers, alongside Suns players Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara. In return, the Suns acquire Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson.
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This trade instantly propelled the Bucks to the forefront of NBA Finals contenders, surpassing the Celtics and Nuggets for good reason.
Milwaukee gains a superstar point guard in Lillard, fresh off a season where he averaged an impressive 32.2 points per game while shooting at a career-high 46.3%—a career pinnacle.
Furthermore, the Bucks are now the favorites to conquer the Eastern Conference (+165), and their regular-season win projection has climbed by three games to 55.5.
- NBA Championship 2023-24 ODDS Via Fanduel Sportsbook
- Milwaukee Bucks+360
- Boston Celtics+500
- Phoenix Suns+550
- Denver Nuggets+650
- Los Angeles Lakers+1200
- Golden State Warriors+1700
- Cleveland Cavaliers+1800
- Memphis Grizzlies+2000
- Los Angeles Clippers+2100
- Philadelphia 76ers+2400
- Miami Heat+2500
- Dallas Mavericks+2500
- New Orleans Pelicans+4200
- New York Knicks+4600
- Sacramento Kings+5000
- Minnesota Timberwolves+5500
- Oklahoma City Thunder+8500
- Chicago Bulls+13000
- Toronto Raptors+13000
- Brooklyn Nets+13000
- Atlanta Hawks+13000
- Indiana Pacers+26000
- Washington Wizards+50000
- Portland Trail Blazers+50000
- Charlotte Hornets+50000
- Utah Jazz+50000
- Orlando Magic+50000
- San Antonio Spurs+50000
- Houston Rockets+50000
- Detroit Pistons+50000
The union of Antetokounmpo and Lillard fulfills a long-discussed dream, and it’s now a reality. Antetokounmpo’s immense presence in the paint will undoubtedly create more scoring opportunities for Lillard, who boasted a remarkable 45% success rate on catch-and-shoot threes last season.
Both players excel in isolation, and Antetokounmpo’s capacity to handle the ball as a point forward may occasionally free up Lillard to play off the ball.
Additionally, Lillard and Antetokounmpo are poised to wreak havoc in the pick-and-roll. Lillard’s proficiency as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations, averaging 1.13 points per possession, ranked in the 93rd percentile last season.
While losing the defensive prowess of Holiday is a notable setback, his offensive output doesn’t compare to Lillard’s scoring prowess. The Bucks did part with some key role players but retained Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, essential components of their 2021 championship-winning squad, albeit aging.
This trade presents Lillard with his first genuine shot at an NBA championship.
Despite his earlier desire to join the Heat, it’s clear that with four years left on his contract, Lillard is poised to embrace Milwaukee as his new home and Antetokounmpo as his formidable teammate with great enthusiasm.
As for the Suns, their odds for a title remain unchanged, keeping them as the fourth-favorite contenders.
We’ll see if it’s Dame’s time to win finally win a chip.